Here’s a summary of some of the more interesting drug testing news stories and articles from around the UK this week. As always, if drugs are a concern for you, your family or your organisation, Zoom Testing is here to help. Contact us with all of your drug testing requirements.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed for their sedative and hypnotic properties. As they are commonly abused, they are regulated with strict guidelines by regulators around the world.
Painkillers: ‘Buying online fuelled ruinous addiction’
A woman has described how easy access to drugs on the internet fuelled an addiction that started with a prescription for period pain when she was 19-years-old | BBC, UK
Cannabis
In the UK, cannabis is a class B drug. This means that it is illegal to sell or use cannabis without a prescription. At Zoom Testing we offer a very wide range of drug testing kits for cannabis. This week, there were a number of cannabis related news stories that caught the eye:
Mexborough: Road dug up to repair cannabis factory damage
Officers recovered cannabis plants with a street value of £80,000 from the house on Doncaster Road in Mexborough on Wednesday | BBC, UK
High-strength cannabis linked to addiction and mental health problems
Largest ever study into the health effects of different types of weed highlights concerns about high strength cannabis | University of Bath, UK
Suspected cannabis plants worth £180k seized in Weston-super-Mare
Police have seized hundreds of suspected cannabis plants in Weston-super-Mare with an estimated street value of £180,000 | BBC, UK
Large cannabis factory found in former London police station
A large cannabis factory has been found in a former police station in east London | ITV, UK
Belfast: Man accused of transporting cannabis refused bail
A man accused of transporting more than 20kg of cannabis seized at Belfast International Airport claimed he thought his suitcases contained cigarettes, the High Court has been told | BBC, UK
Police received calls about Ipswich cannabis factory before fire
Three anonymous calls were made to police about an alleged cannabis farm before a fire there damaged five homes, it has emerged | BBC, UK
Cocaine
Cocaine is a stimulant drug that produces short-term euphoria, energy, talkativeness, and feelings of well-being. Cocaine is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United Kingdom with an estimated 1.2 million people using it in 2022. The UK has seen a significant rise in cocaine abuse in recent years. Cocaine drug tests are used to detect the presence of cocaine in an individual’s system and help identify who is likely to be at risk of developing a dependence on the drug. Zoom Testing supply a wide range of drug testing kits for cocaine. In the news this week:
Kate Moss ‘sick and angry’ at being made a scapegoat for taking cocaine
The British supermodel talks candidly on BBC radio’s Desert Island Discs about her drug use, defending Johnny Depp and being ‘objectified and scared’ | Guardian, UK
Isle of Man woman jailed over cocaine-hidden-in-speaker plot
A woman who agreed to have £27,585 worth of cocaine hidden in a speaker sent to her home has been jailed for three years and 11 months | BBC, UK
Heroin
Heroin has been used as a recreational drug since 1898 when it was marketed as a cough suppressant and non-addictive alternative to morphine and codeine by Bayer Pharmaceuticals under the brand name Heroin cough syrup. Zoom Testing is a leading supplier of drug testing kits for Heroin. In the news this week:
MDMA
Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, is a drug that can cause euphoria, heightened senses and feelings, feelings of closeness with others. It is a stimulant that creates an intense feeling of happiness and energy. Ecstasy Drug Test Kits are available from Zoom Testing. We can also supply party drugs test kits.
The Loop issue warning over teddy bear pills following Secret Garden Party
The Loop has issued a series of drug warnings following Secret Garden Party which took place over the weekend (July 21 to July 24). These warnings were for a pill that was found to contain 2.5 times the normal dose of MDMA, a ‘Teddy Bear’ pill that varied in strength, an imitation ‘SoundCloud’ pill and N-ethylpentylone getting sold as powdered MDMA | MixMag, UK
Warning over ‘imposter’ substances threat
Festival drugs: Drug testing charity the Loop said it found Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pills with double the normal amount of MDMA at this year’s Secret Garden Party | BBC, UK
Other Drug News in the UK
Also in the news this week:
Four arrested as drugs seized in Belfast and Lurgan
Four men have been arrested following the seizure of more than a quarter of a million pounds worth of suspected illegal drugs in Belfast and Lurgan | BBC, UK
Photo by Testalize.me on Unsplash
